Switching of metal stock and the like



Nov. 28, '1939. c, HAWTHORNE 2,181401 SWITCHING 0F METAL STOCK AND THELIKE Filed July 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3! INVENTOR CHARLES wHAWTHORNE MZM/ A'r TOR [YE Y Nov. 28, 1939. c. w. HAWTHORNE 2.181.401

SWITCHING 0F METAL STOCK AND THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet2 3 E N m m v P INVENTOR CHARLES WHAWZHORNE A T ToRA EY swrrnme 0F METALSTOCK AND THE LIKE FiledJuly 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H94 H95 F296 F297[NI/EN TOR CHARLES w. HAWTHORNE BY ATTORNEY NOV. 28, 1 939. c wHAWTHQRNE 2,181,401

SWITCHING 0F METAL STOCK AND THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet4 j W/HW 1N VE N T OR CIMKLES w HAWTHORNE ATToRN Y Nov. 28, 1939. v aHAwTHbRNz 2,181,401-

SWITCHING OF METAL STOCK AND THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet5- I. I r/ I 44/ [NVENTOR Q Q CHAR w. HAWTHORIVE r i BY 7 ATTORNEYPatented Nov. 28, 1939 "UNITE-D A -E PATENT .QFFIC'E SWITCHING or METALs'rocx AND THE Charles w. Hawthorne, Worcester, as-

Morgan Construction Company,

signor to Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJuly 27,1936, Serial No. 92,836 b v 2o (cl, 193-49) multi-strand rodmill, 1. e., a mill which delivers its product in a plurality of linesor strands.

The invention enables an operator, by suitable manipulation of a singlecontrol device. to obtain very readily the proper distribution of thearriving pieces to the several paths'or channels that lead from 'theswitching point,the switching 9 apparatus being'so arranged and operatedthat no hindrance to the delivery of a newly-arriving piece into anyselected path or channel is imposed by the concurrent movement throughor across the apparatus of other pieces which have 25 been previouslydirected into adjacent channels or paths; other and further objects andadvantages of the invention will appear from the following detaileddescription thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in

v Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in sectibn, of apparatusinvolving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewof such apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

gs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary partly diagrammatic views illustratingdifierent positions .of the operating devices for the switching mem- 40her.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a valve mechanism which is movable toproduce the several positions of the operating mechanism shown by Figs.4, 5,

45 6 and 'l. v

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 i a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the valve member in adifferent position.

50 Fig. 11 is a detached view, partly in section, of

the valve-member.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of said vaivememher. I

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view, illustrat- 56 mg the operation ofthe apparatus.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

' In Fig. 13 is shown diagrammatically, by way of example, aconventional billet-heating furnace I, of .the type' through whichthe'biilets move 5 v broadside in a row; each billet, as it arrives atthedischarge end of said furnace, is pushed out endwisethrough asuitable opening 2, by a movement which carries the billetsf front endclear across my improved switchingapparatus, desig- 10 nated as a wholeby the numeral 3. Such switching apparatus, as hereinafter described, isso op erated as to direct such advancing end of each billet into one orthe other of fourseparate paths orchannels 4, 5, Saudi, arranged in arow 15 alongside the switching apparatus and constituting, in theapparatusshown by Fig. 13, the receiving'guides for the initial stand ofrolls 8 of a m'ulti-strand rod mill, the latter being arranged in thewell-known manner to reduce and deliver its product in four parallellines. or strands 9, 9, 9, 9, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig.'13. The switching apparatus of my inventioh is preferably interposedbetween the row of guide entrances l, 5, 6 and lands, suitable sup- 2};

port or platform ill adjacent the delivery opening 2 of furnace I;' saidplatform illjis substantially at the same level'as the bottomorsup'porting, surfaces of the'guideopenings'L-I, 6 and I.

.The switching apparatus proper consists principally of two elements,viz, a supporting structure it adapted to beraised and lowered; and aswitching member 12 adapted to move back and forth on said supportingstructure.

The supporting structure is shown in'Figs. 1,

. 2 and 3 as provided by a pair of parallel rails l3,

l3 connected. at opposite ends by cross-members It, It; eachcross-member I4 is supported by a pair of rocker arms i5, [5, the latterextendin upwardly in parallel relation from two cross- 40 shafts l6, itwhich are Joumalled in suitable stationary supports l1, 11' at oppositeends of the structure. To one of said shafts I6 is keyed or otherwisesecured an operating arm it, whose free end, by, mechanism. to behereinafter de scribed, is adapted to be raised and lowered to procureraising and lowering of the supporting structure II in a parallel motionabout the centers or axes ofcross-shafts it, it.

The rails II. I: support the wheels or rollers I9; IQ of the switchingmember 12 which, as I shown in Fig. 3, substantially bridges the spacebetween the'platform I0 and the channels 4, 5,

8 and I. On the upper-surface of member I! are provided upstanding guideflanges 20 and II ceiving the stock from platform ill, but whichconverge to form a relatively narrow mouth 22 on the side adjacent theguides or channels 4, 5, 6

and '|,the mouth 22 being of a width to register with only one of suchguides or channels. Pivotally connected at 23 to the member I2 is a drawbar 24 which, at its other end, provides one or more notches 25 toengage over a pin 25 provided by a rocker arm 21' which extends upwardlyfrom a shaft 28. Said shaft 28, journalled in suitable supports 29,provides another arm 30, to the end of which is hung a suitable weight3|, the'latter tending to rockv the shaft 28 counterclockwise, therebyto force the member I2 to its extreme left hand position, Fig. 3, withthe mouth 22 alined with the left hand guide entrance or channel 4, asshown.

Operating oppositely on arm 30 from weight 3| is a lifting cable orconnection 32 which, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, issubjected to upward movements of varying-lengths; thereby to draw theswitching member l2 to the right, Fig.3, for alining the mouth 22selectively with one or the other of the remaining channels or guideentrances 5, 6 or 1. It will be understood that no actual registrationof mouth 22 with any of the guide entrances 4, 5, 8 or 1 occurs when thesupporting structure I I is inthe lowered position indicated by Fig. 1,since in that position, the mouth 22 is below the level of said guideentrances; not until said supporting structure U is shifted into itsupper position, by upward pull on arm l8, does such registration occur,and in order to maintain such registration with whichever guide entrancehas been selected to receive the bar or billet, the member I2 ispreferably provided with a projecting lug 33 whichenters, upon theelevation of the supporting structure, in one of a series of recesses34, 34 underlyingand corresponding'in number and arrangement to theentrances 4, 5, 6 and 1,-thus to hold the member |2 while so elevatedagainst any displacement from the selected position. It follows,therefore,

that the back and forth positioning movement of switch member l2 on'thesupporting structure must occur when the latter is in its loweredposition; the elevation of said supporting structure to.

register mouth 22 with the selected opening or entrance is made to takeplace after the switching member l2 has been shifted to the desiredposition by appropriate upward movement of the cable or connection 32.

' Said cable 32, as shown in Fig. 1, has its upper end pivotally securedto the fulcrum 35 of a lever vidual fluid pressure control device,'suchdevices, three in number and marked a, b and 0, being piston andcylinder units of conventional construction, each with its piston rodconnected at 44 with the associated link or member 31,

4| or 42, respectively.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to and exhausted from the devices a, band c for the raising and lowering of their respective pistons by way ofthe separate pipes or conduits 45, 43 and 41, respectively, the lattercommunicating. as

shown in Fig. 8, with three spaced ports 45', 45' and 41. respectively,of an interior chamber 48 formed by the bore of a valve casing 49. Thisvalve casingforms part of a control valve mechanism which is suitablylocated in relation to the switching point so that the operator bymanipulation thereof, as hereinafter described, may set the switchingmember l2 in any desired position for directing the next-arriving pieceof stock into any one of the guide entrances 4, 5, 3 or 1.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the inlet of pressure fluid tobore 48-is by way of a port 53,

which is connected by pipe 5| to any suitable source of pressure fluidsupply. The outlet or exhaust of pressure fluid from the valve casing isby way of a port 52, to which may be connected -a suitable return orexhaust pipe 53. Fitted for sliding movement and also for turningmovement in the bore 43'is' avalve member of the construction shown byFigs. 1-1 and 12, said member beyond its cylindrical barrel or bearingportion 54 being recessed on opposite sides, asshown at 55, 55, andbeyond said recesses having a short cylindrical end portion 56 thatiitssa'id bore. In

the extreme right hand position of said valve member shown by Fig. 8,the pressure fluid supwhich opens a passage or port 59 through portion56 into the chamber 48. I

The valve member is operated by a lever or handle member 50, the latterbeing pivoted at 6|. to a bracket 62 which projects from a ring 63 thatencircles a-cylindrical portion 64 of the valve cassubstantiallycorresponding to the longitudinal axis of the valve member. However,said ring is restrained from any endwise movement, being engaged on oneside by a shoulder or collar 35 of the valve casing, and on the otherside by a threaded ring66 which is screwed on to the end of thevalvecasing. The handle or operating lever 3|) passes through adiametrical slot 61 in the barrel portion 54 of the valve member, theportion received in said slot preferably having rounded edges 58 toavoid lost motion or any tendency to bind on the adjacent surfaces ofthe slot, as the valve is moved back and forth-by rocking of the leveron its pivotalaxis 5|.

A stationary bracket '59, preferably secured to 40 ing 49 and is free toturn thereon, i. e., on an axisv the valve casing, has a transverseportion 10' which provides a suitable bearing support' or guide for thereduced portion or stem 1| of the valve member. The longitudinal portionof said bracket 63 provides a series or row of suitably spaced recessesor notches w, :r, y and- '2, adapted to receive the valve operatinglever 63in each of the four (or. more) longitudinal positions into whichthe valve member is movable, for controlling, as hereinafter described,the admission and discharge of pressure fluid to and from the devices a,b and c. The freedom of ring 83 to turn on the longitudinal-axis of thevalve mem-- ber allows operating lever 50 to have rocking motions aboutsaid axis, for movement into and out of the aforesaid notches w, a, y,z,'and the vaive member itself partakes of such rocking motions, due tothe passage of lever 50 through the slot 6 That is to say, with thelever 63 received in 76 position of the valve member is-that illustratedin Fig. 9, whereas with the lever. "rocked outwardly to clear suchnotches or recesses 10, :c, y, z, the angular position of the valvemember is that illustrated in Fig. l0,-there being a suitable stop, notshown, which .limits the turning movement of ring 63 on the withdrawalmotion of lever 50 from any ofthe four positions w, :v, y, z, and thuskeeps the valve member from moving beyond the angular position shown inFig. 10.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the valve casing 49, in substantially thesame transverse zone as the port 50, provides a port I2 approximately 90removed from the port 50, the port I2 being connected by a pipe I3 to afourth fluid pressure control device d (Fig. 1), of substantially. thesame construction as the devices a, b and c. The piston rod of device dis connected, preferably through an adjustable turnbuckle link I4, to acable 15, the latter, as shown in .Fig. 2, having depending therefrom arod 16 which'is pivotally attached at 11 to the operating arm I8 forraising and lowering the supporting structure II on which rides theswitching member I2. ably, rod 16 is surrounded by a coiled spring 18,confined between a collar 19 on said rod and a stationary standard80,-the function of said spring being to cushion the up and down motionsof the supporting structure II, as obtained by the admission of pressurefluid to and the discharge of pressure fluid from the device d. The

operation of the apparatus-is as follows:

With the valve operating lever 60 in .the position shown by Fig. 8 androcked over into the notch w, the valve "member occupies the angularposition shown in Fig. 9,a recess 55 thereof establishing communicationbetween ports and I2, so that the pressure fluid has access by pipe 13to the device :1; this drives the piston of said device d upwardly,and'thereby elevates the supporting structure II and with it theswitching de'vice I2, the latters mouth 22 being thereby registered withthe-particular guide entrance (in this instance the entrance 4) withwhich the mouth 22 is alined when the valve is in its extreme right handposition shownby Fig. 8.

That is to say, this extreme right hand position of the. valve leavesopen to exhaust all three of the ports 45', 46 and 41' that areassociated with the fluid pressure devices a, b and 0 respectively, inconsequence of which all three of the pistons of said devices remain attheir lowest points in the respective cylinders; thus the point orconnection 35 is held down by weight 3I at the lowest level (Fig. 4)which said point or connection 35 can descend to; with the connection 35at this level, the switching member I2 occupies the extreme left handposition shown by such bar or billet so directed into entrance 4' hasbeen seized in the reducing roll passto which said entrance 4 delivers,and is being drawn or pulled by the action ofsaid reducing rolls acrossthe platform I0 and the switching member I2; assume also that theoperator elects Preferto have the next bar or billet which is pushedoutwardly onto platform .III and switching member I2 delivered to theguide'entrance 5. The

operator proceeds at once to arrange the apparatus for such delivery,notwithstanding the fact that the bar or billet first referred to may bestill in the process of being drawn across the switching apparatus intoguide entrance 4; to arrange the apparatus for such delivery of the nextbar or. billet into guide entrance 5, he shifts the operating lever 60out of the notch w and into the notch :r. The rocking movement of thevalve incident to pulling the lever 60 out of notch w, throws said valveinto the position shown in Fig.

10, where the valve slot 58 comes into registry with port 12 and therebyimmediately exhausts the pressure fluid from device d, causing thesupporting structure II and switching member I 2 not disturb in any waythe continued passage.

of the bar or billet first referred to into the guide entrance 4, nordoes any disturbance to such stock passage arise. from the ensuinglongitudinal movement of the lowered switch member I2, when the lever60, freed from notch w, is shifted to a position opposite the next notch:r. That is to say, such first piece of stock continues to be drawn ,byrolls 8 across thespace im-' mediately-above the lowered switchingmember l2, and the passage of said stock across said space is at alevelhigh enough to clear the left hand guide flange 20 which, by anyright hand movement of switching member .I2 from the position shown inFig. 3, will be moved into a position underlying a bar or billet whichis being drawn into guide entrance 4.

The above described movement of valve lever 60 to a position oppositethe notch a: shifts the valve member 54 far enough to carry itscylindrical portion 56 beyond the port 41', thus causing the valverecess to connect the port 41' with fluid supply port 50. This admitspressure ing member I2, through cable 32. to the right, so that themouth 22 will be positioned just below the guide entrance 5. During thisleft hand movement of valve 54, the registration of slot 58 with port 12(Fig. 10) is maintained, so that the piston of device d remainsat thebottom of its cylinder, this preventing any elevation of switchingmember I2 during its above-described right hand movement. But when theoperator completes the valve movement by throwing the lever 60 into theselected notch 1., the angular movement thus imparted to said valve (seeFig. 9) restores the flow of pressure fluid into port I2 for theimmediate lifting of the piston of device d,thus returning thesupporting structure to its elevated position which disposes the mouthsage into entrance4 of the first-referred to bar flange 20 whentheswitch member I! is in its elevated position; Assume now that withtwo diflerent bars or billets being-drawn by rolls 8 across theswitching member, one piece into the entrance 4 and the other into theentrance 5,

the operator elects to have thenext-arriving piece enter the guideentrance 6; to set the switching member for this purpose, the operatorwithdraws the valve lever from notch :d and.

The resulting elevation of the piston of device I? raises the left handend of lever, 69 as shown in Fig. 6, and thereby produces, throughfurther raising of point 39, an additional upward movement of point toshift switching member ii on rails it a sufiicient distance to disposethe mouth 22 of said member just below the guide entrance 5. Thereupon,when the operator com- .pletes the valve movement by throwing the leverso into the selected notch 1, the angular movement thus imparted to saidvalve (see Fig. 9) restores the flow of pressure fluid into port 72 forthe immediate lifting of the piston or device d,--thus elevating thesupporting structure to dispose the mouth 22 in registry with the guideentrance t.

In this position of the switching member, both of the previouslydirected pieces being drawn into the entrances d and 5 will ride overthe flange 2d, and the next-arriving piece will be directed by flanges20 and 2! into guide entrance E3. The same procedure as above describedcan be employed to set the switching member in position to direct thenext piece pushed out from the furnace into the guide entrance i,thevalve lever in this instance being shifted into. the

notch 2 by a left hand movement which carries the valve portion 56 pastthe port Q5',--thus admitting pressure fluid to the device a as well asto the devices b and ,c. In this situation, with the elevation of allthree pistons of devices a, b' and c, the point 35, as shown in Fig. 7,

is raised to its highest position, carrying the switching member 82 toits extreme right hand position, so that when the valve lever 60 isrocked over into notch z, the mouth 22 will register with theguide-entrance i. Fig. 13 illustrates graphically ,a situation in whichsuccessively pushed-out pieces of stock 5', 6' and l have been directed,respectively, into guide entrances 5,. 6 and 1 and are being drawn byrolls 8 across the space occupied by the switching member !2. The latterhaving directed the last-arriving piece 1' into guide entrance 7, mustnowv be shifted so as to direct the next-arriving piece into the onlyempty guide entrance, namely, the guide entrance I. For this purpose,the operator withdraws the valve lever from notch z (with consequentlowering of the switching memher) and repositions said valve lever innotch w, the notch corresponding to guide entrance 4. In thismanipulation, the valves endwise move ment exhausts the pressure fluidfrom all three devices a, b and 0, allowing the weight 3| to move theswitching member I! to its extreme left or billet, the latter simplyriding over the guide of stock 5, 8' and I that, as assumed above, are

being drawn along by the rolls 8. With the elevation of the switchingmember at the completion of the valve movement, (the rocking of valvelever 60 into notch 10) the guide flange 2|, which is purposely madesomewhat higher than the guide flange 20, will lift the three passingpieces high enough to allow the next-pushed-out piece 4 (Fig. 13) on thefurnace floor to pass under said three pieces and bedirected withoutinterference into the guide entrance 4.

by lateral engagement with successive pieces of stock moving toward saidentrances to direct each piece into a selected path, and operating meansfor said guide device to initially free it from lateral engagement witha so-directed piece of stock :passing across same into one of said pathsand then to dispose said guidedevice, still free from lateral engagementwith said passing piece, in operative relation with the entrance ofanother of said paths! 2. The combination with a plurality ofstockconveying paths having their entrances substantially in a row, of amovable guide device common to all the entrances of said row and adaptedby lateral engagement with successive pieces of stock moving toward saidentrances to direct each piece into a selected path, and operating meansfor said guide device to initially free it from lateral engagement witha piece of'stock passing across same into one of said paths and then todispose said guide device in operative relation with the entrance ofanother of said paths, said operating means comprising fluid pressuremeans for shifting'said guide device at right angles to said row ofentrances and other fluid pressure means for shifting-said guide devicesubstantially parallel to said row of entrances,

' 3. The combination with a plurality of stockconveying paths havingtheir entrances substantially in a row, of a movable guide device commonto all the entrances of said row and adapted by lateral engagement withsuccessive pieces of stock moving toward said entrances to direct eachpiece into a selected path, and operating means for said guide device toinitially free it from lateral engagement with a piece of stock passingacross same into one of said paths and then to dispose said guide devicein operative relation with the entrance of another of said paths, saidoperating means comprising fluid pressure means for shifting said guidedevice at right angles to said row of entrances and other fluid pressuremeans for shifting said guide device substantially parallel to said rowof entrances, and a single valve for controlling both of said fluidpressure shifting means.

4. Apparatus for directing successive pieces of moving stock into anyone of a plurality of stocks conveying channels arranged substantiallyin a row,- comprising a table having guide means thereon, fluid pressuremeans for shifting the table in a direction substantially at rightangles to the row of channels to move the guide means into and out ofoperative relation to the chap nels, fluid pressure means for shiftingsaid table a in predetermined sequence.

both shifting means to cause the first shifting means and the secondshifting means to operate 5. The combination with means for the endwisedelivery of a succession of stock pieces, of more than twostock-receiving and conveying media having their entrances arranged in arow across the line of stock delivery, stock-forwarding means associatedwith'each'of said entrances for advancing any piece delivered thereto ata speed so related to the recurring operations of said delivery meansthat said pieces tail end is overlapped by thefirst end of thenext-delivered piece, a stock-switching device adapted to be moved intoregistration selectively with each of said entrances, and means forprocuring the travel of said device, when moving from its registrationwith one entrance to registration with any other selected entrance alonga path offset from said row, whereby to avoid registration of saiddevice with an unselected intervening entrance.

6. The combination with endwise delivery means for a succession of stockpieces, of more than two stock-receiving media, each arranged tocontinue the endwise movement of pieces so delivered, a switching deviceinterposed'between .said delivery means and the entrances to saidstock-receiving media, said switching device being movable selectivelyinto registration with each of said entrances, and means for preventingthe movement of said switching device from its registration with oneentrance into registration with another entrance except in a planeoffset from and substantially parallel tothe plane of said entrance. I

'7. The combination with endwise delivery means for a succession ofstock pieces, 'of more than two stock-receiving media, each arranged tocontinue the endwise movement of pieces so delivered, a switching deviceinterposed between said delivery means and the entrances to saidstock-receiving media, said switching device being movable selectivelyinto registration with each of said entrances, means for preventing themovement of said switching device from its registration with oneentrance into registration with another entrance except in a planeoffset fromand substantially parallel to the plane of said entrances,and means for shifting said switching device between said entrance planeand said olfset plane.

8.'In apparatus 01' the class described, a group of more than twostock-conveying channels served by a common endwise delivery means for asuccession of stock pieces, in combination with an interposed switchingdevice adapted to be registered selectively with any of said channels,and operating means for shifting said switching device from one channelto any other by an initial movement into a plane offset from andsubstantially parallel to the plane of said channels, an intermediatemovement in said ofiset plane to a position substantially alining butout of registry with the selected channel, and a final registrymovement.

9. The combination. with means for the endwise delivery of a successionof elongated pieces of stock, of stock-forwarding means having. a

group of more than two entrances all served by said delivery means andarranged in a row across the line or stock delivery, saidstock-forwardin means operating at a speed so related to said deliverymeans recurring operations that the tail end of a piece being forwardedby said forwarding means is overlapped by one or more of thenext-delivered pieces, a switching member in the path of stockdelivery,and selectively registrable with any of said entrances, to direct anapproaching piece thereto, and operating means forsaid switching memberto initially free it from lateral engagement with a so-directed piece ofstockpassing into one of said entrances, and

' then to move said member along a path offset from said row and intoregistration with any other selected entrance, whereby to avoid registration of said member with an unselected intervening entrance.

10. The combination with means for the endwise delivery of a successionof elongated pieces I of stock, of stock-forwarding means having a groupof more than two entrances all served by said delivery means andarranged in a row across the lineof stock delivery, saidstock-forwarding means operating at a speed so related to said deliverymeans recurring operations that the tail end of a piece being-forwardedby said forwarding means is overlapped by one or more of thenext-delivered pieces, a stock guiding member in the path of stockdelivery and movable into different operative positions corresponding innumber and arrangement to said row of entrances, whereby to direct anapproaching piece to any selected one of said entrances, and operatingmeans for said guiding member to initially free it from lateralengagement with a so-directed piece passing into one of said entrances,and then to move said guiding member along a path offset from said rowand into registration with any other selected entrance, whereby to avoidregistration of said guiding member with an unselected interveningentrance.

11. The combination with means for the endwise delivery of a successionof elongated pieces of stock, of stock-forwarding means having a a groupof more than two entrances all served by means operating at a speed sorelated to said delivery means recurring operations that the tail end ofa piece being forwarded by said forwarding means is overlapped by one ormore of the next-deliveredpieces, a stock guiding member in the path ofstock delivery and movable into different operative positionscorresponding in number and arrangement to said row of entrances,whereby to direct an approaching piece to any selected one of saidentrances, and operating means for said guiding member to initially freeit from engagement with a so-directed piece passing into one of saidentrances, and then to move said guiding member along a path offset fromsaid row and into operative relation to any other selected entrance,whereby to avoid operative association of said guiding member with anunselected intervening entrance.

12.'The combination with means for the endwise delivery of a successionof elongated pieces of stock, of stock-forwarding means having a groupof more than two entrances all served by said delivery means andarranged in a row across adapted to be registered in turn with all ofsaid entrances, to distribute successive approaching pieces of stockbetween them, and means for withdrawing said member from registrationwith one entrance, and for thereafter shifting it selectively along apath offset from said row into registration either with an adjacententranceor with another of said entrances beyond said adjacent entrance.

' 13. The combination with means for the end- I wise delivery of asuccession of elongated pieces of stock, of stock-forwarding meanshaving a group of more than two entrances all served by said deliverymeans and arranged in a row across the line of stock-delivery, saidstock forwarding means being operated at a speed so related to therecurring operations of said delivery means that the tail end of a piecebeing forwarded by said forwarding means is overlapped by one or more ofthe next-delivered pieces, a switching member adapted to be registeredin turn with all of said entrances, to distribute successive approachingpieces of stock between them, means for withdrawing said member fromregistration with one entrance, and for thereafter shifting itselectively alonga path ofiset from said row into registrawise deliverymeans operating successively on' single elongated pieces of stock, morethan two receiving channels for the delivered pieces, with theirentrances arranged in a row transverse to the line of stock delivery,stock-advancing means associated with each channel for continuing theendwise movement of each piece at a speed so related to the recurringoperations of said delivery means that said pieces tail end isoverlapped by the advancing first end of the nextdelivered piece, aguide device for the stock adapted to be registered, selectively, withany one of said entrances todirect the next-delivered pieceinto aselected channel, means for moving said device from its registry withone entrance into registry with any other of the remaining entrances ofsaid row of three or more entrances, and means for constraining suchmovement to a path offset from said row, whereby to avoid registrationof said device with an unselected intervening entrance.

15.- The combination with stock-forwardingmeans having more than twoentrances arranged a substantially in a row, of a movable guide devicecommon to all said entrances and adapted by lateral engagement withsuccessive pieces of stock moving towardv said entrances to direct eachpiece into a selected entrance, and operating means for said guidedevice to initially free it from lateral engagement with a so-directedpiece of stock passing'across same into one of said entrances andthen'to move said device along a path offset from said row and intoregistration with another selected entrance, whereby to avoidregistration of said device with an trance.

16. The combination with stock-forwarding means having more than twoentrances arranged substantially in a row, of a movable guide devicecommon to all said entrances and adapted by lateral engagement withsuccessive pieces of stock moving toward said entrances to direct eachpiece into a selected entrance, rreans to move said device back andforth as deslred'along a path ofl'set from said row, and means to movesaid device between said path and said row and vice versa, whereby thedevice can be moved from registration with one entrance intoregistration with a selected non-adjacent entrance without registrationwith an unselected intervening entrance.

1'7. The combination with stock-forwarding means having more than twoentrances arranged in a substantially horizontal row; of a movable,guide device common to all said entrances and adapted by lateralengagement with successive pieces of stock moving toward said entrancesto direct each piece into a selected entrance, means to move said deviceback and forth as desired along a substantially horizontal path ofisetdownwardly from said row, and means to raise and lower the devicebetween said path and said row, whereby the device can bemoved fromregistraunselected intervening ention with one entrance intoregistration with a selected non-adjacent entrance without registrationwith an unselected intervening entrance.

18. The combination with stock-forwarding means having more than twoentrances arranged in a substantially horizontal row, of a movableguidedevice common to all said entrances and adapted by. lateral engagementwith successive pieces of stock moving toward-said entrances to directeach piece into aselected entrance, means to move said device back andiorth as desired along a substantially horizontal path offset down-,-wardly from said row, and means to raise and lower the device betweensaid path and said row, the guide device being shaped as a channel whichopens upwardly, whereby the device can be moved from registrationwithone entrance while a piece of stock is passing therethrough' and theninto registration with a selected non-adjacent entrance withoutregistration with an unselected intervening entrance.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a switching member adapted tobe disposed, selectively, in any one of a plurality ofoperatingpositions; operating means therefor, comprising a, plurality ofactuators, and connecting devices between said member and vsaidactuators arranged to produce varying amounts of motion to said memberin direct proportion to'the number of actuators rendered active.

' 20. In apparatus of the class described, a

' switching member adapted to be disposed, selectively, in any one of aplurality of operating positions, actuating means therefor comprising aplurality of hydraulic pistons, and connecting devices between saidpistons and said member arranged to transmit to said member differentmovements of varying extent, depending upon the number of said pistonsrendered active for the movement of said member.

CHARLES W. HAWTHORNE.

